Apparatus for sealing containers with adhesive tape



April 11, 1950 H. J. E. WEBER 2,504,059

APPARATUS FOR SEALING CONTAINERS WITH ADHESIVE TAPE Filed Nov. 10, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet l 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 April ll, 1950- H. J. E. WEBER APPARATUS FOR SEALING CONTAINERS WITH ADHESIVE TAPE Filed Nov. 10, 1947 R ON Vm ttornev April 1950 H. J. E. WEBER 2,504,059

APPARATUS FOR SEALING CONTAINERS WITH ADHESIVE TAPE Filed Nov. 10, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 lnenmr April 11, 1950 1H. J. E. WEBER APPARATUS FOR SEALING CONTAINERS WITH ADHESIVE TAPE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 10, 1947 lwU % Q N g mm Wm NR Om f mw m w m V a m W W m April 11, 195.0 H. J. E. WEBER I 2,504,059

APPARATUS FOR SEALING CONTAINERS WITH ADHESIVE TAPE Filed Nov. 10, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Ki Attorneys Patented Apr. 11, 1950 anon APPARATUS FOR SEALING CONTAINERS WITH ADHESIVE TAPE Heinrich Julius Eugen Weber, Beckenham, England, assignor to Rovego Limited, London, England Application November 10, 1947, Serial No. 785,109 In Great Britain November 11, 1946 16 Claims.

The present invention is concerned with the sealing of tins or other containers against ingress of air or moisture by means of adhesive tape which is applied in the form of an encircling band overlapping the crevice formed between the container and its associated lid, the edge of the lid overlapping the sides of the container.

The chief object of the present invention is to evolve a machine of simple construction for performing the sealing operation, which machine will be capable of sealing containers fed to the machine in succession without interruption.

A machine for the purpose specified and in accordance with the present invention comprises a fixed support for the container to be taped, a tape carrying member adapted to carry a roll of tape and revolvable about the container to apply the tape thereto, a peg or equivalent member for the attachment of the end of the tape prior to the taping operation and means for severing the tape on completion of the taping operation, leaving the end of the tape adhering to the peg for the next succeeding application.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect, the invention is hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure l is a side elevation of a taping machine in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional plan view of the same on the line II-II in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the upper part of the machine;

Figure 4 is a sectional plan view on the line IVIV in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a vertical section on the line VV in Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a vertical section drawn to an enlarged scale illustrating in detail the operation of the scissors for severing the tape;

Figure 7 is a side elevation of the scissors and their supporting member;

Figure 8 is an inverted plan view of the details illustrated in Figure 7;

Figures 9 to 14 illustrate successive stages in taping a container and severing the tape;

Figure 15 is a diagrammatic view correspond" ing substantially with Figure is, showing how a container of other than circular section can equally well be taped;

Figure 16 is a diagrammatic View illustrating the movement of the tape applying rollers out of 2. the path of the tape prior to its application to the container.

The machine illustrated has been designed to tape a number of containers in quick succession and without interruption until the tape drawn from a supply roll has been exhausted, the process of taping a container involving the following operations which will be described hereinafter separately and in detail with reference to the illustrated example of taping machine. The operations in question are:

1. Moving container to be taped into position for taping, and clamping container in taping position to prevent container turning about its axis during the taping operation.

2. Taping the container.

3. severing tape including rolling projecting end of tape into overlapping relationship with end of tape previously applied to container.

4. Releasing clamping force on container.

5. Moving tape container out of taping position to make way for fresh container to be taped.

Operation 1, namely, moving container to be taped into position for taping and clamping same in position The machine includes an input shaft 5 carrying a worm 2 in driving engagement with a worm wheel 3 mounted on a main driving shaft 5, the input shaft being driven through the medium of fast and loose pulleys 5 and driving belt ii, the latter being movable into engagement with either the fast or loose pulley by means of a belt fork 'i actuated by a lever 8. The input shaft I also carries a hand wheel 9 for hand actuation if required.

The main driving shaft t carries a crank 50 connected by means of a connecting rod H with a lever 12 carrying a pawl it which co-operates with a ratchet wheel l4 secured to a shaft t5, the shaft l5 carrying a bevel wheel i6 driving a second bevel wheel ll secured to a shaft 18, the latter carrying a roller l9 over which passes an endless conveyor :belt 20, the opposite end of the belt passing over a loosely revolvable roller 2|.

The containers 22 to be taped are placed in position on the conveyor belt 20 successively and are guided by means of guides 23 into a position in which they can be transferred into the taping position one by one. It will be appreciated that the conveyor belt will be given a unidirectional periodic movement as a result of angular movement of the lever l2 through the angle indicated by arrows 24.

Referring for the moment to Figure 2 and assuming that container A has been placed in position on the conveyor belt, this container will be moved by the belt into position B. It is then necessary to move this container from position B into position C, which is the position assumed by the container for the taping operation. With this object in view, a table is provided, on to which table the container to be taped is moved laterally by means of a pusher 28 which takes the form of an upstanding plate attached to slides 21 slidably mounted within guides 28, endwise movement of the pusher into the dotted line position resulting in the container being moved from position B to position C.

Operation of the pusher is effected by means of cam 29 contacting roller 30 mounted on lever 3|, the latter being pivotally mounted about its axis 32 and being connected by means of link 33 with a second lever 34 in turn connected by link 35 with slides 21, the roller 38 being main tained in contact with the periphery of cam 29 by a coiled tension spring 36. The cam 29 is actuated directly from the main shaft 4 of the machine on which it is mounted.

For a purpose hereinafter referred to, it is necessary for the container to be taped to be moved vertically upwards above the level of the containers on the endless conveyor and also those containers which have been taped and are I,

connecting rod 42 with a second bell crank lever 43 anchored to a fixed part of the machine frame by coiled spring 43a, the lever having a link connection 44 with a boss 45 slidably mounted on a vertically arranged spindle 45 on which is secured a boss 41, the spindle carrying the table 25, a coiled spring 48 being interposed between parts is and 41 for a purpose hereinafter referred to.

Assuming the parts have operated to move the table vertically upwards so that the container 22 to be taped occupies the position shown in Figure l, the upper surface of the container will have been moved into operative engagement with a centre head 49 in a resilient manner owing to the provision of the coiled spring 48, thereby maintaining the container firmly in position against axial rotary movement during the taping process.

Operation 2, namely, taping the container It will be appreciated that the container during the taping operation is maintained in a fixed position and that the roll of tape from which the tape is drawn is revolved about the axis of the container. Referring for a moment to Figures 9 to 14, the movement of the roll of tape about the axis of the container is clearly shown in these figures. Furthermore, it will be appreciated that this movement of the roll of tape about the container will not be a continuous one but will be periodic so that the tape will be at rest during the severing operation, i. e. in the position shown in Fig. 14.

The mechanism provided for revolving the roll of tape about the axis of the container is shown in Figure 1 and includes a crank 50 secured to the main driving shaft 4 and connected by way of a connecting rod 5! with a further crank 52 which in turn carries at its extremity a springurged pawl 53 (see particularly Figure 3), which pawl co-operates with and enters notches 54 formed in a driven disc 55 mounted on shaft 56, the crank 52 being thus moved periodically from the full line position shown in Figure 3 to the dotted line position.

Shaft 56 carries a gear wheel 51 which engages a second gear wheel 58 with which is rigidly associated an arm 59 carrying a plate 60 fitted with a centrally arranged pin 6| on which the roll of tape 62 is mounted. Figure 1 clearly shows the position occupied by the tape during the taping operation, and in fact shows the tape having been applied to the container and about to be severed by the scissors. It will be appreciated that periodic angular movement of crank 52 will cause a periodic rotational movement of the arm 59 and associated roll of tape about the container, and consequently it was necessary to move the container vertically upwards into a taping position to prevent the tape fouling the remaining containers on the endless belt and delivery platform.

Assuming that a container is to be taped, sufficient tape is drawn by hand from the roll to enable its extremity to be adhered to a tape supporting member 63 which projects downwardly from a member associated and revolving with gear wheel 58 and arm 59, the roll of tape occupying the position shown in Figure 9.

Assuming that containers have not yet been fed into the machine for taping, and assuming that the machine is operating, the arm 59 and roll of tape is free to revolve with the end of the tape adhering to the member 63. On, however, a container being fed into the machine and finally moved into its clamped taping position, the tape will be applied to the container progressively as shown in Figures 10, 11, 12 and 13, the tape being finally severed as in Figure 14 by mechanism hereinafter described. As, however, the initial stage of applying the tape will involve the attachment of the tape to the container at a point intermediate the roll 62 and the member 63, the extremity of the tape being left adhering to the member 63, it is necessary to remove the extremity of the tape from the member 63 and press it firmly into contact with the container. With this object in view, a roller 64 is provided mounted on a lever 65, which lever is pivotally mounted at the point 66 on an arm 61 and is urged by means of a spring 68 into engagement with the tape. The arm 6! is capable of angular movement about an aXis 69 and has a tailpiece 10 carrying a roller H which in turn engages the periphery of a cam 12 secured to the main driving shaft 4. The arm 6! is formed in two parts hinged together at (3 for a purpose hereinafter referred to, the roller 1| being maintained in contact with cam 12 by means of a coiled tension spring 14.

The movement of the roller 64 is clearly shown in Figures 9 to 14. In Figure 9, the roller is stationary, and in Figure 10 the roller has commenced to move towards the tape on the container. In Figures 11 and 12 the roller has contacted the tape and is in the process of stripping the extremity of the tape off the member 63 and rolling it into intimate contact with the container. In Figure 13 the roller has commenced to return to its initial position, and in Figure 14 it has returned to its initial position As in Figure 9, the tape drawn from the roll would foul the roller 64 if it occupied a position in the plane of the tape when the latter was in process of initial application to the container, the roller normally occupies the position shown in Figure 1 but is capable of being moved vertically upwards into the plane of the tape by means of a ramp 15 including a central horizontal part and two downwardly inclined ends, the arm 67 carrying a roller 16 which engages the ramp. With this arrangement, inward angular movement of the arm 61 from the position shown in Figure 9 to the position shown in Figure 11, will cause the roller Hi to rise up the ramp and lift the roller 64 into the plane of the tape, the roller being subsequently returned to its initial position to enable the tape to be applied to the succeeding container. It will be assumed at this stage of the operation that the roll of tape has reached the position shown in Figure 13, i. c. it is ready to be severed by the severing mechanism.

Operation 3, namely, severing tape The mechanism employed for severing the tape is shown on an enlarged scale in Figures 6 to 8 and includes a fixed scissor blade 11 and a movable scissor blade 18, the latter being pivotally mounted at 19 and having a pin which engages a slot 8| in a member 82 which in turn is carried by a plunger 83 movable vertically within a sleeve 84 revolvably mounted within the tubular part 85 of the centre head :19, the part 85 being fixedly located to the upper platform 86 of the machine. The gear wheel 58 which is formed integral with sleeve 87 and is rigidly associated with the arm 59 revolves about the part 85.

Sleeve 84 is keyed by means of a pin 88 to a gear wheel 89 which in turn is driven by a gear wheel 90 rigidly associated with the notched disc 55, the member 83 being also prevented from turning within the sleeve 84 by means of pin 88, but being permitted a certain amount of axial movement for a purpose hereinafter described. The movable scissor component 18 is shown by full lines in Figure 6 in its cutting position, the normal position occupied by this component being indicated by chain dotted lines, a coiled compression spring 83a being provided for returning the movable scissor blade into the dotted line osition at the completion of the severing operation. Movement of the part 18 into the full line position is effected by downward movement of the member 83, brought about by angular movement of a lever 91 pivotally mounted at 92 on an upstanding bracket 93 on the platform 86, movement of this lever 91 being effected through the medium of a cam face 94 on crank 50, cam face 94 engaging roller 95 on the bell crank lever 96 pivotally mounted at 91, the bell crank lever being connected by means of com necting rod 98 with a short lever 99 rigidly associated with lever 9!, a coiled tension sprin H30 being provided for maintaining roller 95 in contact with cam surface 94. On the completion of the taping operation and the parts having assumed the position shown in Figure 13, cam 94 will operate to cause the moving scissor component 78 to move downwardly and sever the tape between the member 63 and container. In this way the extremity of the tape from the roll will ing from the container, which length of tape must the end of the tape previously applied. To cause the projecting extremity of the tape to be moved into overlapping relationship with the tape already applied, a second roller is provided this roller 64a being mounted in an identical manner to roller 64 and having similar component parts associated therewith, which component parts are therefore indicated by the addition of reference letter a and need no further description other than that pivotal movement of arm 61a is effected through the medium of a further cam 72a, the roller 64a being movable out of the plane of the tape in a similar manner to that adopted for moving roller 64.

Roller 64a is therefore moved from the position shown in Figures 9, 10, 11 and 12, into the position shown in Figures 13 and 14 for the purpose of rolling the extremity of the tape into overlapping relationship with the tape already applied to the container, the roller being finally returned to its initial position.

As it is intended that the machine should be capable of dealing with containers of various cross-sectional shape and size, Figures 9 to 15 show also in chain dotted lines the path taken by the tape when dealing with a container of rectangular form, Figure 15 showing diagrammatically the formation of the tape when it has been applied.

Operations 4 and 5, namely, releasing clamping force on container, and moving tape container out of taping position On the container having been taped, the table 25 is lowered, thereby releasing the clamping force on the container and enabling the taped container to be pushed laterally on to the delivery platform 3'! by the succeeding container, the succeeding container being moved by the pusher 26 on to the platform to repeat the taping operation.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing description that the machine is continuous in operation, and in the event of there not being any containers to be taped on the conveyor belt, the machine will continue to idle without application of tape, taping taking place automatically immediately a container is placed on the conveyor belt and is finally moved into the taping position on the platform or table.

The guides and their associated parts and also the table are capable of adjustment for dealing with containers of various dimensions, the rollers 64 and 64a serving to press the tape firmly into contact with the container irrespective of its cross-sectional shape.

I claim:

1. A machine for the purpose specified comprising a fixed support for the container to be taped, a' tape carrying member adapted to carry a roll of tape and revolvable about the container to apply the tape thereto, a peg or equivalent member for the attachment of the end of the tape prior to the taping operation and means for severing the tape on completion of the taping operation, leaving the end of the tape adhering to the peg for the next succeeding application.

2. A machine for the purpose Specified comprising a support for holding the container to be taped stationery during the taping operation. a

Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,504,059 April 11, 1950 HEINRICH JULIUS EUGEN WEBER It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above rection as follows:

numbered patent requiring cor Column 7, line 70, for the claim reference numeral 3 read 2;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Ofiice.

Signed and sealed this 4th day of July, A. D. 1950.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Oommz'ssz'oner of Patents.

April 11, 1950 H. J. E. WEBER 2,504,060

APPARATUS FOR SEALING CONTAINERS WITH ADHESIVE TAPE Filed Sept. 12, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR BY J Amwwmdaw ATTORNEYS 

